John Arnott's (welcomehomeinspections) Blog

Home Renovation Tax Credits                                                               The Federal Government revealed the Home Renovation Tax Credit in its budget on January 27, 2009. If you are thinking that maybe you might be able to manage a couple of small jobs, now may be the time. After...

Question:  What is the proper way to vent a clothes dryer?  Answer:  Here are some facts from the United States Fire Administration.  Dryer exhaust should vent directly outside the home. In some new homes, washers and dryers are placed in non traditional areas of the house, including upstairs bed...

Urea formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI) is again in the news. An Ontario Company has been ordered by the Federal Government to stop selling a formaldehyde based insulation that has already been installed in about 700 homes.  Justice Minister Rob Nicholson announced a "cease and desist "order aga...

Emergency shut offs- What every family member should know A basic safety plan can protect your home and family and is simple to set up. What is probably most important is to ensure that each and every member of your family is also familiar with the plan and are trained on how to operate the contr...

Preventing Ice Dams The cold weather is upon us and brings with it some home problems that are specific to Northern cold climates. Ice dams can be seen in both old and new homes and if left unchecked can lead to severe structural damage. What is an Ice Dam? Generally deeper snow and colder temper...

Essential steps to improve indoor air quality. Clean air is essential to good health and this is especially true when it comes to indoor air. It is estimated that North Americans spend close to 90% of our time indoors. With the advent of energy conservation and the trend towards tighter, draught ...

Important information about venting for Water Heaters, Furnaces or Boilers     In Ontario, beginning on August 2007, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) has adopted new national code requirements regarding the installation of plastic venting systems for gas burning appliances such...

Your heat recovery ventilator (HRV) can help make your house a clean, healthy living environment. It improves air quality by removing stale indoor air and continuously replacing it with preheated outdoor air.  An HRV can give many years of trouble free service. All it takes is a little bit of tim...

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colourless and odourless gas which is a common by-product  of the combustion of fossil fuels. The burning of natural gas, propane, oil, wood, kerosene and coal produce CO. Exhaust from your car or gas mower also produce this potentially dangerous gas. Because you can't s...